The developers behind plans for 28 new affordable homes in Hatton have questioned the council's "baffling" decision to refuse planning permission.

Altus Homes and Morro Partnerships have submitted an appeal after Warwick District Council last year threw out their scheme for the houses off Oakdene Crescent.

The local authority said the scheme was inappropriate in the green belt as it sided with the 168 locals who objected to the application.

Plans were originally for 34 homes on the former Ministry of Defence site, but this was reduced during the course of the application process.

The developers have now appealed to the planning inspectorate for the decision to be overturned.

"Socially, the proposed development would provide homes in an area that has historically delivered limited levels of new housing," the appeal said.

"These new homes would make an important contribution to the housing land supply through the windfall allowance, to assist the council in meeting their duty to significantly boost the supply of housing to help meet the housing requirements of the local and wider local area.

"The proposals would also increase housing choice for the local area, in an area of very high demand and significant unmet need.

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"It would also add new residents to participate in local community activities and groups, boosting social cohesion by supporting existing social infrastructure."

The outline plans for the homes off Oakdene Crescent (image via planning application)

Altus and Morro pointed out the council is unable to demonstrate a five-year housing supply, meaning more weight should be given to the need for new homes.

They also claimed documents submitted to the local authority before a decision was made were never uploaded to the planning portal.

And given Hatton has been earmarked for thousands of new homes in the new local plan, the firms questioned what difference another 28 would make.

It is baffling that the council do not refer to the emerging local plan, the proposed allocation, or the sustainability appraisal for the site in the officer report, and indeed the officer report and reasons for refusal contain statements that directly contradict the findings of the evidence base underpinning the proposed allocation," the appeal continued.

"It is clearly a sustainable location based on the council's own evidence."

When the original application was submitted both Hatton Parish Council and Shrewley Parish Council objected, as did a number of local councillors.

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Objections criticised the location, access and the lack of need for the affordable homes.

When WDC threw out the original scheme it was said it did not qualify for the 'very special circumstances' needed to develop in the green belt.

"When considering the scheme as a whole, the development is considered to represent 'inappropriate development' within the green belt and the proposal is considered to introduce harm by definition and harm to the openness by reason of the use, scale, layout and location," a WDC report said.

"This harm is afforded substantial weight within the planning balance."

The council will be given the chance to present its own case before a decision is made.

See the full application here.